Xbox Doubles Down on Compatibility, PlayStation Backs Off

Spawn on Me host Kahlief Adams guest-hosts this week with Ryan, Miranda, and Destin as the Xbox crew discusses Microsoft’s and Sony's differing approaches to compatibility, EA's newly renewed exclusivity agreement with the NFL for Madden, the future of the now-canceled BlizzCon, and more!

[Futureshark]

So I bought Kingdoms of Alamur on my old 360 back in the day, and was very happy when I found it was BC on Xbox One.
My question is will 'Smart Delivery' give me the Xbox 360 version on the Series X, or the newly announced One X remaster version?
MS did say they won't charge for upgrade versions, so will this count? Or is it a bit of a smoke and mirrors promise?

[Agito1987]

it's a remaster not an upgrade, counts as a diferent game with its own achievements.

[Futureshark]

Ah I see, so might be better to wait and get the Series X BC 360 version, beefed up with HDR, faster loading and running at higher resolution and FPS due the XSX hardware, rather then the Xbox One remaster that probably offers similar but maybe not even as good on the XSX. Interesting.

[Agito1987]

@Futureshark

Well that depends, series X should give Ai upscaling, frame rate I belive depends if the game originally is able to support 60fps or run unlocked. But it should run at least the original frame rate at a solid pace with no dips.
Your 360 en Og games will run and look better than before, but that does not automatically mean it will run or look better than a remaster. It depends on the amount of work that has been put into it.

In the end, it's up to de Dev/Publisher to give people a update to a game, or sell you A old product under a new name (Remaster/Remake)

[green]

"MS did say they won't charge for upgrade versions, so will this count? Or is it a bit of a smoke and mirrors promise?"

When did Microsoft develop or publish Kingdoms of Alamur? SMH

[Gaming4Life1981]

I didnt know that kingdoms of amalur was getting remastered and I already own the game but depending on price I might get it. I dont think the series x will boost the 360 version past a remaster but I could be wrong.

[rainslacker]

That's an EA published game, so MS wouldn't be making that decision.

Chances are, the remaster will be a completely different release....although stranger things have happened, so maybe it'll be a free upgrade. EA has also done reduced costs upgrades for cross gen, although this isn't exactly cross gen.

[StoneyYoshi]

Smart delivery only counts for games supported that get released for XB1 and XSX. If it's a 360 game then it's either running through BC or you buy the remastered version if the developer made one.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

Backwards compatibility is only a good thing and xbox doubling down on it is a smart move. Thing is do we even know what the plan is with PS5? A little hard to judge when they haven't revealed what the plans are yet. I'm really hoping it will be backwards compatible with PS3, PS2 and PS1 as well as PS4. I know it's a pipe dream but I don't know why Sony seem to be keeping their legacy hidden on old platforms.

[Agito1987]

They could give us at least access to our psone & ps2 games.
Really would love to play trough of resident evils, front mission & metal gear solid.

[Z501]

What have you playing your ps1 & ps2 games on all this this time?
"They could give us at least"
Didn't they "at least" give us the ps1 & ps2 in the first place?

[Agito1987]

@Z501
"What have you playing your ps1 & ps2 games on all this this time?"
I haven't, that's the point. I have a couple of games I love to replay to this day. I should be able to still play my digital bought games on current sony systems don't you think? Hell, even the vita supports psone games.

"Didn't they "at least" give us the ps1 & ps2 in the first place?"
This one I don't follow?

[CrimsonWing69]

I think what @Z501 was trying to say is if you want to play the older games then get the older system. Which is kind of how I feel about HD Remasters (not Remakes) from a generation behind current-gen.

However, as far as BC goes I agree with you because for me I have limited space to put numerous systems in. I can’t have a PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5 out just to play older Games. It would’ve been so epic if the PS5 could just do what Xsex is doing and let us play everything. That right there automatically would’ve made it the best Sony console ever.

[Agito1987]

@CrimsonWing69
Same for me I have ps4, Xbox & switch connected. and have psone,ps2,ps3,xbox360 in storage.
I don't have the space for each console hooked up to the tv.

And it is really just my personal opinion, I see psn & ms store the same way I look at GOG & Steam.
If I buy a game digitally (often more expensive than physical & the platform holder makes more % off of what I pay.) I want my purchase to be available across all devices that are technically able to support those games.

Upgrading your console should be no real different than upgrading your PC at this point in time.

And don't get me wrong, if sony gives no BC for psone/ps2/ps3 that's fine. But I as the customer see it as a negative.

[ZeroX9876]

I'm seriously hoping for PS1,PS2 and almost complete PS4 library compatibility. as for PS3, I think by now we know it won't be an easy task. RPCS3 (PS3 emualtor for PC) has come a long way since it's original release and does run a lot of titles at great speed, but requires one hell of a PC to run it smoothly.

I'm hoping for complete PS1/PS2 BC and not a "list" of specific games.

[Sayai jin]

Would be nice. BC is only a good thing.

[Agito1987]

@Sniperwithacause
Do I still use my old phone/ps3? No....
Do I still want access to my files/Games? Yes...

If I upgrade my PC I expect it to still run my games. Same for the console if I upgrade to a better model I expect it to give me a better experience or at least equal than before.

[NeoGamer232]

I disagree...

Microsoft having 15 first party studios now is a great move. And those studios are producing.

Microsoft GamePass was a great move, especially GamePass Ultimate. And putting first party games on GamePass.

Microsoft's hardware architecture (like Sony's) is very strong looking for this next generation.

Microsoft providing exceptional BC (even improving some games) was a great move.

Sony is not without its great moves as well.

Sony's improvement of the library for PS Now was a great move

Sony continuing to ship highly acclaimed triple AAA first party games is also a great move.

Sony's next generation hardware (as with XSX) is a great move.

It is a good time to be a gamer, both companies are competing hard and making great moves.

[StoneyYoshi]

You have my respect!! This fella right here is a true gamer! You provided nothing but facts my good man!

[Pancit_Canton]

New Games > BC

One of the reason they lost last gen, and it's going to be same reason this gen. I like that Sony spend their major resources on making new IP. Let's be honest, you are buying a new console to play NEW games, rather than playing 10 - 20 years old games. To me, this makes Sony look confident on their next gen. offering rather than relying old games to sell their system. Microsoft, not so much.

[LimpTool]

And Microsoft only said all of their games will work cross gen for only 1-2 years. This gives people that can't afford or waiting on upgrading the chance to play those games. If Sony came out with a new GoW next year all PS4 users would be SoL.

[BlackTar187]

Yes and that would be great cause i want my new GoW to be built for all the strengths of ps5 and no cuts to work around a ps4.

[jambola]

yes
because ps4 users can't possibly get a ps5.......

[Z501]

I bought a PS3 for PS3 games (specifically)
I bought a PS4 for PS4 games
....

[shinrock]

Good for you 👏 And I'll be buying the XSX for all my XB games😎🤜✊ We both seem to be getting what we want 👏

[StoneyYoshi]

And I got my PC for my Xbox games. And PS4 for PS4 games. Everyone wins in the end like always! 🙌

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

“Playstation continues to invest in their strong stable of AAA studios, Xbox reactively buys up studios last minute for the next gen and spends money on PR to inflate the value of BC for the first 2 years of the XsX lifecycle.”

[Rimeskeem]

Well while Xbox players keep playing there games from 2018 I will be playing 2021 games and so on.

[Chevalier]

To be fair with a generation so bad for exclusives and so forgettable its not a surprise you got to reach back so far to have something good to play.

[Rimeskeem]

Tbh, I just dont remember a single exclusive that came out for Xbox from 2019 or 2020. I mean I guess Ori.

[Chevalier]

@Rimeskeem

Exactly. This whole generation was so forgettable for Xbox it needs to reach back farther to get some meaning

I got Ori and Gears 5 for that time period. But its Ryan Mcaffrey and his skewed Xbox view. Like I always say you can't spell Ignorant without IGN. They are seriously trying to make it seem like BC is some huge new concept. And its partial BC at that. It's a handful of OG Xbox, 360 games not all of them so its misleading to say its supporting BC. Suddenly its a huge thing? Did we forget to PS3 OG which had almost 100 percent BC with PS1 and PS2 games? Or the Wii? But now a generation where Sony and Nintendo didn't lean on it BC and now its this whole BS about being more consumer friendly? What a joke.

PS4 will be compatible on PS5, but, even that's not enough? Sorry between the huge PS4 library with far better overall quality and add PS5 games won't be enough? Lol. Sorry I would rather take the larger better quality PS4 library and the amazing exclusives over the handful of OG Xbox, 360 and pitiful Xbox One library ANY day of the week.

While Xbox rattles on about old garbage can they say they did their best on the present day? PS4 already brought us Persona 5 Royal, MLB 20, Dreams and soon TLOU2 and Ghost of Tsushima while we prepare for PS5 while Xbox has what to bring in the home stretch that even comes close to those games in quality?

[aaronaton]

The very 1st thing i'll do when i get my PS5 setup won't be to insert a PS4 disc.

[Veneno]

You must admit, though, that it will be one of the things you do. You aren't curious to see Last of Us Part 2, God of War, Death Stranding, all in 4k up-res?

[LM1213]

I don't really replay old games. I guess maybe because I already know what happens and what to expect. I rarely go back to old games. when ps5 comes out I might try an old game, just to see, maybe play 15 min. realistically, after that I would probably never touch it. I may be one of the few that don't really care too much about bc. once I play a game once, I am usually done and on to the next one. maybe I just got a short attention span.

[hiawa23]

Exclusives make up such a small % of overall games released, so every game is exclusive to the platform I buy them on. Series X is important for my gaming since It has the potential to support 4 generations of Xbox games, not just exclusives, but games, many enhanced, and that is what I rank my consoles on actual usage.

[rainslacker]

"Exclusives make up such a small % of overall games released"

I do agree with this. But at the same time, Sony's exclusives, some not even made by them, have been some of the best games this generation. To me, it's not so much if they're exclusive, but if they're good, and if good games are coming out only on one platform, then it should be part of one's purchasing decision.

MS has shown quite a few games from their new studios already. Disregarding the cross gen aspect of it, are any of them one's that actually make people rush out to buy consoles? There all those games that help round out a library, and add a perceived value to the console, but people aren't going out to buy a XSX for games like Everwild or Scorn....even if they were only for next gen. Keep them on current gen as well, and there is even less reason to go out and buy it, because why spend all that money for mid-tier games? People love to say that the first couple years doesn't show what next gen can do, and I think with 3rd party that's often true, and most of it is just cross gen stuff. So, why spend all that money on a new console?

So, exclusives do matter, but I respect that one of your reasons for buying an XSX is because of it's continued support of prior gens, which I assume you are invested in already. There's nothing wrong with that, but it illustrates that BC is going to be more relevant to those who are invested, but probably not much of a draw for new customers, because new customers don't have software already, and aren't looking at buying expensive new systems to play those older games. Generally speaking of course.

[hiawa23]

Yeah, I get what you are saying about exclusives matters. I own everyone of the PS4 Pro exclusives this gen and have not been able finish any of them, and with my backlog going all the way back to the 8bit days, and being more into retro gaming at this point in my gaming life, I can only see getting one console next gen.

[LoveSpuds]

I recall studies showing that just a few percent of gamers actually played old games on their current consoles.

Backwards compatibility is a 'nice to have' kind of feature, but MS are only banging this drum because its the only area they can compete in. Personally, I buy a new console to play new games and whilst I certainly hope PS5 has backward compatibility with the PS4 library, you better believe backwards compatibility makes not a jot of difference to which console I am buying at launch.

Only one manufacturer has a track record of releasing new title after new title, throughout the whole life of their consoles, this is what resonates with people, its the marketing of exciting, must have, new games that generates buzz and excitement, not whether they can play old games.

[Veneno]

I don't know man, the PS3 cycle was crazy. The PS2 was still selling hard and games kept coming out well into the PS3's first few years so people had every reason to keep their PS2's hooked up. But I remember personally that me and my friends would have fighting game sessions of PS2 games like KoF 11, the KoF Orochi Saga, Battle Collesum, and play on PS3. PS3 made many PS2 games better.

So it would have been more interesting to see how BC on PS3 would have been if PS2 wasn't still so strong , if PS3 weren't so expensive, and if PS3 was more competitive with the 360.

[LoveSpuds]

Hi Veneno, that's cool mate, and thanks for starting a civil discourse too. I take your point totally, and I would just restate, that I think BC is a good thing but I would ask you this, would the lack of BC stopped you buying a PS3 or would a lack of BC driven you to exclusively game on 360?

I want to be fair, because it would be wholly disingenuous to say BC doesn't matter, I genuinely hope PS5 has it but the point I hope I made was that it is such a small consideration particularly if games like Horizon 2, Spiderman 2, God of War 2, Bloodborne 2 and so on start dropping with the regularity that exclusives have over the last 15 years or so.

[Chevalier]

Same. Although I ended up buying PS3 fightsticks to continue playing KOF Orochi saga along with World Heroes and Samurai Shodown collections. Still using my BC PS3

[Veneno]

Thanks, Spuds.

The PS3 is my favorite console of all time, so no, BC does not play a role in that. But it was very disappointing that I had to wait until the price went down to get my own, and by then BC was removed. So it's not so easy to answer because the BC is a factor that drove me to the PS3 but it was taken out by the time I actually got one.

BC will be on PS5 so I don't know why ps fans keep downplaying it like it's not a big thing. In a different scenario where Xbox was more competitive this would be a major topic. And just because the reality is that Xbox isn't as competitive, doesn't mean I want the feature any less because it's something I expect from PlayStation.

So in short yes it's pathetic that Xbox uses BC as a Main selling point and the media is milking that, I'm also seeing ridiculous comments that BC is not needed or wanted, which it certainly is now more than ever.

[LoveSpuds]

Yeah, fair points dude. I loved my PS3 too, helk of a console although, I think PS4 has surpassed it for me now....games just keep getting better and better I guess.

I am hoping for a remaster or sequel to Bloodborne on PS5 but I will ne really interested to see if there are any benefits to playing the PS4 version on PS5.

Have a great day duder, keep safe.

[LM1213]

I don't see the hype for ps or ms. I know I am in the minority, but you can put sparkles and sunshine on a piece of crap, yeah it may look better, but it's still a piece of crap, now it just has glitter.

[CrimsonWing69]

I was so hoping PS5 would’ve been true backwards compatible. I know, I know, I’m one of those crazy guys that actually go back and play old games and most people just play new games on their new console. It’s definitely a bummer for me.

I wish they’d at least release more PS2 games with trophies like they did earlier this gen, but it seems like they gave up on that. Like, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne with a platinum would’ve been awesome.

[Veneno]

It's very very nice to have BC during the lulls of releases of the big next gen games. And it seems those lulls will only get longer next gen.

[jambola]

if you're saying "go back" you have the games already right?

[CrimsonWing69]

Right, I have most of my games. Like if the PS5 were like fat PS3 is what I was wanting for BC.

[averagejoe26]

So happy about this. Who buys a new console to play old games?

Can't wait for Sony to usher in the true next gen.

[FallenAngel1984]

“So happy about this. Who buys a new console to play old games”

Highest selling Switch game is a rerelease

[rainslacker]

I play old games on consoles that have BC...which are few consoles really.

I don't buy any system to play old games though. It's an added feature, and one that's nice to have. It's good thing to promote and talk about, but it's actual relevance to the overall market has been greatly exaggerated. Even among the hardcore gamers....which I'd say most forum going people are if they talk about it.....probably aren't that invested in BC. Even if it was one of the most requested features, it's still going to be a vocal minority among the larger market.

[DanielEndurance]

It appears Xbox’s past is brighter than its future.

[Cmoney007]

MS: We will have the best quality BC on our newest console!

Sony: Is this new console actually going to have a lot of exciting new games though?

[RamRod88]

It's funny reading these salty as comments about BC because we all know Series X is well ahead of ps5 in this regard. But instead of giving props and maybe wishing Sony was this supportive of their legacy games, we get lame digs at Xbox. It's really sad and makes the playstation community look petty when their not #1 in something.

[jambola]

*ass, not "as"
* they're, not "their"

[Games1st]

BC is resources better spend making better games.

[Limitedtimestruggle]

It's a shame that Sony, as far as we know does not even try to compete with Microsoft on this matter. I would love to clear up-some space in my setup.

[Dragonscale]

Considering both switch and PS4 lack bc and have dominated the console with bc this gen says it all really.

[CobraKai]

BC is a nice feature, but seriously; MS needs to “double down” on new Series X games. I’m not spending hard earned cash on a 360 upscaler.

[darthv72]

What makes you think they aren't?

[CobraKai]

The claim that they’ll have “thousands of games” at launch makes it feel like they’re putting most of their energy on BC.

[RamRod88]

MS is making those claims because we all know Sony won't be able to match it. Any competitor knows it's important to highlight what they have better than its competition. If you think MS is more focused on BC than new games, you haven't been paying attention.

[Silly gameAr]

@RamRod

I think it's you that hasn't been paying attention. History says otherwise.

[Flewid638]

Out with the old, in with the new.

[Mrwick890]

Microsoft keeps clinging to its xbox 360 days because even they know their new games are trash.

[PhoenixUp]

Long live preservation of this medium

[Ulf]

It's pretty funny to hear all the "we played them already" combined with "enjoy your 480i" from the fanboys.

Ironically, if you had played any classics already, you probably would have some respect for these titles which, frankly, play perfectly great in 480i, 480p, 720p, etc. Keep telling yourself how much BC games suck, because, clearly, no gaming generation could have been fun before 4K Angry Birds, with multitouch input. Tell us all about it, BC-haters, you're really convincing us dumb newbs who are here on N4G because we haven't chosen our first console yet...

/s

BC is great. Anyone who knocks it isn't a real gamer, and therefore isn't worth listening to. Not supporting it is really, really bad treatment for brand loyalty.

[Aussieguy]

Imo, MS needs backwards compatibility a lot more then Sony does because MS doesnt have a lot of exclusives and dont seem to be going the way of 1st party games from 1st party studios, but instead buying exclusives from 3rd party devs and relying more on muli platform games.

Where Sony has invested a lot of money into their 1st party devs and some 3rd party devs to bring a tonne of exclusives to the PS4 and im sure that will continue with the ps5. So im guessing their sole focus isnt on backwards compatibility and doesnt need it as a selling point like Microsoft does.